Cómo informar de una rareza por los canales oficiales

Un día…

Un hombre entra en un edificio de muchos pisos.

Oficial: ¿En que le puedo servir?

Hombre: Quiero denunciar una desaparición.

Oficial: Ah, entonces pase a la sección de personas desaparecidas.

Hombre: Verá, es que no se trate de una persona.

Oficial: ¿Cómo no? ¿Pues, de que se trata?

Hombre: Es…es un poco difícil de explicar.

Oficial: Mire señor, no dispongo de todo el día. Así que si no me lo puede o no me lo quiere explicar le aconsejo que vuelva más tarde cuando lo tiene más claro. ¿De  acuerdo?

Hombre: Vale, vale. Pues se trata de un chorlito dorado americano (Pluvialis dominica) que vi en unos arrozales. Estuvo durante unos 15 minutos, se marchó y después no lo podía encontrar.

Oficial: ¿Un dolido chico americano? Mire, si ha venido a gastar una broma y…

Hombre: No, no, por favor. Un chorlito dorado americano.

Oficial: ¿Y esto que es exactamente?

Hombre: Es una limícola  neártica divagante a Europa.

Oficial: ¿Una limícola neártica? Si me lo hubiera dicho antes habríamos ahorrado mucho tiempo. Tenga. Hay que rellenar este formulario, A421 “Limícolas Neárticas Extraviadas“.

El joc “Rapinyaires” ja està a la venta – El juego “Rapaces” ya está en venta

Rapinyaires – Rapaces

Ciutadans de Catalunya! Ja ho tenim aquí! Per fi, desprès de la seva concepció més de 6 anys enrere, ha nascut el joc “Rapinyaires!“.  El part ha anat molt bé, a més dels pares Birding In Spain i La Sabina, també han assistit la Diputació de Lleida, el Plus Fresc, l’Ajuntament de Lleida i el web de micromecenatge Verkami.

Desprès de la seva presentació de “com a casa” i informal aquest dissabte passat a Montsonís el joc ja està a la venta. PVP 16.5 euros, si compres 2 el preu és de 15 euros per a unitat.

A més del joc en si, que dona varies possibles modalitats de joc instructius i divertits, també hi ha un manual que explica més coses sobre els rapinyaires de la Península Ibèrica. No perdis aquesta oportunitat d’aconseguir el teu!

Rapinyaires joc educatiu - Rapaces juego educativo

 

Ya lo tenemos aquí! Por fin, después de su concepción hace más de 6 años ha nacido el juego “Rapaces!”. El parto ha ido muy bién, además de los padres Birding In Spain y La Sabina también han asistido la Diputación de Lleida, el Plus Fresc, el Ajuntament de Lleida y el web de micromecenazgo Verkami.

Después de su presentación “como en casa” e informal este sábado pasado a Montsonís el juego está en venta. PVP 16.5 euros, y si compras 2 el precio baja a 15 euros la unidad.

Además del juego en si, que da varias modalidades de juego instructivas y divertidas también hay un manual que explica más cosas sobre las rapaces de la Península Ibérica (en catalán, pero cuenta con un manual on-line en castellano).

Presentació del joc Rapinyaires - Presentación del juego Rapaces

Assistents joves i no tan joves a la presentació del joc de Rapinyaires 

Hotels renew their links with Birding In Spain

Hotels renew their links with Birding In Spain

Birder-friendly hotels on the Birding In Spain website

If you’re a birder and you’ve been birding in northeast Spain, you may have stayed at one or more of the hotels that form the network of Birding In Spain Recommended Hotels.

If you don’t know which hotels form part of the Birding In Spain network then just check out the Sites and Itineraries section: for most of the itineraries there will be one or two links on the left-hand side that will take you to the hotel websites.

If you have stayed at any of these birder-friendly hotels please let us know about the experience. Your feedback is very useful: if the hotels are doing a good job then it’s important and gratifying to give them a pat on the back and to encourage them to keep up the good work; if you have detected or experienced any shortcomings then reporting these in a constructive manner will also help them to improve.

Here’s a shortlist of the hotels that have collaborated with Birding In Spain for a number of years, and which have opened their doors to the international birding community for another year.

Birder-friendly hotels on the Birding In Spain website

 

Monestir de les Avellanes

Montsonís

Delta Hotel

Rincón del Cierzo

Hospedería de Loarre

Hostería de Guara

Metsola Apartments

Mas del Rei

Hotel Roca Blanca

Hotel Edelweiss

Mas del Joncar

Hotel Mediodía

 Birder-friendly hotels on the Birding In Spain website

Times are hard and getting harder in Spain. These hotels welcome birders and are keen to receive more. You can help them, us, and yourself too, by checking them out when planning your first or your next birding trip to northeast Spain.

If you have already stayed in one of these hotels you could also write a review on Trip Advisor.

Raptors! game crowdfunding initiative a success!

Raptors! game crowdfunding initiative

This is just a short note of thanks to all of you who contributed to our recent crowdfunding initiative on the Verkami webiste. We set the sights quite high, at 4,750 euros, and despite the nail-biting finish we reached our goal.

Raptors! Rapinyaires! Rapaces! Verkami crowdfunding initiative

Our special thanks to Roy Mangersnes who allowed us to use his great Little Owl photo free of charge as the cover photo of the campaign. And thanks to all those who contributed from 10 euros to more than 600 euros. We’re now very close to making the game a reality.

If anyone would like information or insights into crowdfunding, the highs and lows, the work behind the scenes, or any advice we can offer send us an e-mail.

Sponsors: We are co-ordinating with the printers to have the game ready as soon as possible and are hopeful that the day of presentation will be on Saturday December 1st at Montsonís. You are all welcome!

Sommige vogelnamen in het Nederlands, Engels en Spaans

Sommige vogelnamen in het Nederlands, Engels en Spaans

Hier zijn de Nederlands, Engels en Spaans namen van een aantal interessante vogels die gezien kan worden als we kijken naar vogels in Spanje. De Nederlandse namen zijn royaal geleverd door Simone Wolthuis. Gracias Simone!

Dutch. British and Spanish flags

Aasgier Egyptian Vulture Alimoche

Alpengierzwaluw Alpine Swift Vencejo Real

Alpenheggenmus Alpine Accentor Acentor Alpino

Alpenkauw Alpine Chough Chova Piquigualda

Alpenkraai Red-billed Chough Chova Piquirroja

Boomleeuwerik  Woodlark  Totovía

Cirlgors Cirl Bunting Escribano Soteño

Citroenkanarie Citril Finch Verderón Serrano

Dwergarend Booted Eagle Aguililla Calzada

Glanskop Marsh Tit Carbonero Palustre

Grauwe Klauwier Red-backed Shrike Alcaudón Dorsirrojo

Grijze Gors Rock Bunting Escribano Cerillo

Havik Goshawk Azor

Kruisbek Crossbill Piquituerto

Kuifmees Crested Tit Hererillo Capuchino

Lammergier Lammergeier Quebrantahuesos

Nachtzwaluw European Nightjar Chotacabras Gris

Ortolaan Ortolan Bunting Escribano Hortelano

Ring Ouzel Ring Ouzel Mirlo Capiblanco

Rode Wouw Red Kite Milano Real

Rotslijster Rock Thrush Roquero Rojo

Rotszwaluw Crag Martin Avión Roquero

Slangenarend Short-toed Eagle Aguila Culebrera

Slechtvalk Peregrine Falcon Halcón Pelegrino

Steenarend Golden Eagle Aguila Real

Vale Gier Griffon Vulture Buitre Leonado

Vuurgoudhaan Firecrest Reyezuelo Listado

Waterpieper Water Pipit Bisbita Ribereño

Waterspreeuw Dipper Mirlo Acuático

Zwarte Specht Black Woodpecker Pito Negro

Zwarte Wouw Black Kite Milano Negro

Birding In Spain Birding In Spain Birding In Spain

Birding knowhow: fieldcraft

Or how to be a good birder when actually in the field

 Birders with binoculars, telescope and field guide

Well kitted out. “Hey guys, what does <Vogel> mean?”

It’s all very well being kitted out with cutting edge binoculars, telescope, tripod and the latest field guide, but all that costly birding gear will do you little good if you can’t get close enough to a bird to see any of its plumage details, or if it flits away before you even clutch your binoculars. That’s where birding fieldcraft comes in: an important but all too often neglected aspect of modern birding that could greatly improve your birding success.

As birders come in almost as many forms as the birds themselves it seems fair to start with what would appear to the more initiated as rather banal advice. However, based on personal observations of birdwatching fauna it should not go unmentioned: binocular cases are for the home only! Whatever reasons you may have for wanting to keep your binoculars in their case when out in the field (avoiding knocks, keeping them clean, looking trendy, etc.) this practice is contrary and even pernicious to your reason for being out in the field in the first place. Binoculars are a vital tool for any birder and they should be ready for use at all times. Remember the bird won’t usually wait around for you to fumble with straps, lids and lens caps. If what worries you is keeping your binoculars dry in wet weather then get a rain guard or grip them under your jacket in Napoleonic style, but do not keep them sealed in a velvet-lined binocular case!

Essentially, though, a birder’s level of fieldcraft will be a result of his/her attitudes, preparation and resourcefulness. For the sake of space the latter aspect is best left for a later moment. What is meant here by attitudes is the birder’s preconceived ideas that lead him to act in a certain way when out in the field. Preparation concerns things such as clothing and other birding gear, planning and perception.

Attitudes. A birder who sees a flock of gulls and says “Ah, a flock of gulls” and moves on is missing out on an important birding experience. Faced with a flock of gulls, ducks or waders numbering anywhere from 30 to 3,000 the keen and knowledgeable birder would fidget or twitch in response to a sudden surge of adrenaline. Birds of a feather flock together for sure, but he knows that the average such flock offers opportunities of finding birds with different plumages, moult stages, different species and, with a lot of luck, a rarity.

A flock of water birds or a birding bonanza?

A flock of water birds, or a birding bonanza?

Rüppell’s Vulture, Gyps rueppelli, is a rarity in Europe.

Not all vultures will be Rüppell’s Vultures, even in Spain!

Rarities and attitudes towards them could occupy a category all of their own but a basic message would be to bear in mind the possibility of finding a rarity without taking this to obsession level. Remember that rarities are rare, so always consider a more common candidate when trying to identify a particular bird.

Preparation. If it is possible to plan your route beforehand then do so to avoid looking into the sun as much as possible. That means taking into account access routes and times of day; it’s a simple task that at certain sites can deliver large rewards in terms of the quality of your birding experience. Wearing the right clothing is also important. Think about sunhats, waterproofs, climbing boots or Wellingtons, but also ask yourself about colour and rustle. Bright red jackets do not blend in with most environments, and if you rustle or swish with every step you won’t be able to hear the birds but they will most certainly hear you.

Birding in the shade in Spain, out of the midday sun

Go out in the midday sun? Only if there’s shade and lots of birds!

Walking in the rain

  Dressed for a nice walk in the rain, but not for birding.

Get used to listening to birds, not just looking. Most birds can be identified on song or calls alone and if you master local bird songs and calls you will be able to know exactly what is around you without having to spot every single bird. The vocalisation learning process is a long one, which can be helped along by listening to CDs, downloading birdsong and calls from the Internet, and most of all by going into the field and listening hard. Long the process may be, but it is also extremely rewarding.

Have a notebook and be prepared to take field notes, recording details such as place, date, companions names, species and numbers detected. A notebook is a very handy tool when faced with a possible rarity, and also makes for interesting reading at a later date.

Listen again. Be an active listener by asking yourself if you really are listening. There’s almost always a bird calling or singing around you, have you heard it and identified it?

Get to know your birds, including their habitat requirements and selection. You will then be able to come up with such gems as “This looks ideal for a (bird name),”  as you survey a new landscape, raise your binoculars and instantly set eyes on the bird you have just mentioned. At such times its hard not to swell with self-gratification.

Birding the Pyrenees of Spain

Now this looks like good habitat for….

Black Woodpecker nest hole in Spain

…a Black Woodpecker! 

You are allowed to wear any kind of silly hat that you like. There is no firm evidence that even the wackiest designs have any influence on your success or failure as a birder, although it really is better if your ultimate choice is suited to local weather conditions!

One more thing: start now – what’s that bird calling outside?

Birding Fieldcraft and Techniques

Keywords: birding, bird, fieldcraft, binoculars, birder, rarity, flock, field.

Heatwave!

Golly Gosh!

 Birding with Steve

Currently we are suffering another heatwave here in Spain, with today’s temperatures reaching 41ºC around Lleida and in other parts of the Ebro Valley. Most sane people spend their time indoors, not coming out until the evening, when things cool down enough to walk around the neighbourhood and maybe enjoy a meal or a drink on a terrace somewhere. Others take refuge by the pool, or the beachside.

However, some of us have that obsession called birding. And when some of us go abroad we want to see some new birds, whether the month be a Saharan August or an Antarctic January. This month we’ve already had 5 visitors from northern Europe looking to get a bit of birding in during their summer hols in Spain. The idea is admirable, but how do you cope with hairdryer heat that races up into the 30’s before you have time to digest the first excting sightings of the day? And how do you expect to handle the afternoon haze, heat and drowsiness that you know is in store? Here’s some advice that we think is sound. Well, sound enough for anyone who is inclined to go out looking for birds in Spain during a heatwave!

Make sure you have plenty of cool water with you. A couple of litres per person is not excessive. So that means a single big bottle per person or lots of those piddly little bottles that seem so convenient to pop into your backpack, but which are little more than tongue-wetters. Dehydration is a serious issue, and one that many northern Europeans take too lightly.

How to keep the water cool, and for free? Well, not for free, if you want to know you’ll have to send us an e-mail to ask for our secret. We will tell you that it really works a treat.

Suncream, of course. A couple of times a day.

Plan your route. Are you looking for altitude birds? A difference in altitude of 1,000 metres can mean a gasp-saving difference of 10ºC. That’s a “tolerable” 30ºC compared to an opressive 40ºC. So if you can get up high plan to be there around the hottest part of your birding day.

Get up early and be on-site for just after dawn. That’s when it’s coolest, and best for you and for the birds. Eat breakfast late, standing up or before you leave home.

Plan for a late lunch, and not a picnic lunch! Rather go to a nice cool air-conditioned bar, sit and relax and enjoy your food and drink in the knowledge that you have already done all or most of your day’s birding. Most bars and cafés will serve you sandwiches and snacks throughout the day, so there’s no sense in stopping birding at noon to have lunch when you can still bird comfortably until around 2 pm. Birding at 4pm is only for those who know or can do no better.

If your program will allow it take a siesta between 4pm and 7 pm, and then explore the possibility of a spot of late evening birding as the temperature starts to drop.

Park your vehicle in the shade whenever possible. Open the windows before getting back in, drive with them open and the air-conditioning on for a while before closing them and letting the air-conditioning take control. What – you haven’t got air-conditioning?! Then see the advice on the use of horse and carts.

 Black-bellied Sandgrouse seen when birding in Spain

Black-bellied Sandgrouse can cope with a heatwave, but can you?

Birding In Spain 2012 Newsletter now available

LOOK!

This summer’s newsletter is a rich and varied one, rather like the birdlife of Spain!

Birding In Spain 2012 Newsletter now available

It contains photos of great birding places of special relevance, information on accommodation for birders, tours, food, identification fun and a quiz, an appeal, feedback, bird jokes and also presents an exciting brand new Winter Wallcreeper Tour for 2013, with a special “guarantee”.

It’s so easy to get your copy if you haven’t already: just send us an e-mail and ask for one.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2011

To celebrate the Christmas festivities we have designed a fun Christmas card. Click on the link below, download and have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous new year!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Birding In Spain

From Steve and Florinda

Are you willing to pay for conservation?

119 votes so far

If you were asked to pay to enter a nature reserve in the knowledge that the money you paid would go directly towards its conservation, how would you respond

That was the question we asked on our Birding In Spain fan page on Facebook.

Birding In Spain Facebook question

To date the response has been:

I would definitely contribute in that case = 85 votes

No problem. Is there a “Friends of the Park” association I can join too? = 13 votes

How do I know that my money is going towards conservation? = 12 votes 

 It depends on the overall price = 6 votes

It depends on how the conservation is being done =  1 vote

We always pay to enter a nature reserve anyway = 1 vote

No, that’s a government task. We’re paying taxes for that = 1 vote

Pay? No way! = 0 votes

If you would like to follow the debate, or if you would like to have your own say, just follow this link to the question on Facebook or visit the Birding In Spain fan page.

Page 6 of 15
1 4 5 6 7 8 15